Vietnam Loses $350 Million a Year to Online Piracy

Vietnam’s online piracy problem is costing the economy hundreds of millions of dollars annually and posing serious cybersecurity risks, experts warned at a recent workshop in Hanoi.

A Coalition Against Piracy (CAP) survey found 56% of Vietnamese accessed pirated content in the past year, often via illegal streaming sites, Android boxes, or shared links. In 2022 alone, losses reached an estimated USD 350 million. Globally, piracy costs the film, TV, and music industries around USD 65 billion annually.

The risks extend beyond copyright infringement. Infringing sites frequently carry malware, phishing tools, and gambling ads, leading to stolen personal data and compromised bank or social media accounts.

Speakers highlighted Indonesia’s success in blocking piracy sites — a measure CAP says could stop over half of Vietnam’s piracy users. However, hackers are adapting, making advanced tech tool usage critical. Technology solutions and AI adoption were mentioned as methods to prevent copyright piracy. Experts agreed that technology must be combined with stronger laws, international cooperation, and public awareness to change viewing habits.

A CAP survey found 71% of Vietnamese would pay for legal content services if piracy were eliminated — a sign, experts say, that sustained enforcement and education could turn the tide.